'Smuggle in drugs or we'll break your brother's legs', inmate told

A prisoner was told by other inmates that his brother's legs would be broken if he refused to bring drugs into Mountjoy Prison, a court has heard.

Gareth Carroll (35) was on temporary release when he got a call from inside the prison from a number of inmates who were with his brother at the time.

They instructed him to bring heroin, Valium and Xanax into the prison on his return, and said that if he refused his brother would not be leaving with his legs intact.

Carroll returned to jail and prison officers later spotted drug paraphernalia on a table in his cell. He was searched and the drugs fell out of his underwear.

Carroll, of Cherry Orchard Avenue, Ballyfermot, pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to possession of €1,497 of heroin, €768 worth of diazepam and €286 of alprazolam on May 10 last year.

He was serving a sentence for a drug offence at the time.

Gda Barry Brennan told Dara Hayes, prosecuting, that both Carroll and his brother were serving sentences in Mountjoy when Carroll agreed to bring the drugs into the prison.

Concealed

He admitted he had concealed the heroin and tablets internally.

Gda Brennan agreed with Keith Spencer, for the defence, that Carroll's brother was later placed in protective custody in the jail.

Mr Spencer said Carroll was introduced to heroin as a 15-year-old and had been a significant abuser of the drug since. He said the whole family had been blighted by drugs and his client has not had many opportunities in life.

Counsel told Judge Melanie Greally that there has been a "significant glimmer of hope recently" because Carroll is now committed to a new relationship and is free from drugs for the first time. He is stable on a methadone programme and is attending narcotics anonymous.

"He recognises that his addiction was a lifelong one that had caught hold of him from a young age, but he now wants to break that cycle and wants to invest himself in more wholesome interests" Mr Spencer said.

The judge adjourned sentencing to February 27 and ordered a probation report. She remanded Carroll on continuing bail, saying he must continue drug treatment.